Space Release Data Structure for Storage Track Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems cancel the consistency group when a space release command is received during mirroring to free space within a consistency group, disrupting the data transfer process and requiring unnecessary reinitialization.
Innovation Solution
A space release data structure is created to indicate which tracks to release, allowing the space release command to be processed after the consistency group is completed, thereby avoiding cancellation and optimizing the processing of space release commands in both source and target storages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the consistency group copy is cancelled to allow the space release command to complete, then the space release command can be executed, but the data transfer process is disrupted and requires reinitialization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a space release data structure in advance to track which tracks should be released, allowing the consistency group to complete its data transfer without interruption. The space release operation is prepared and queued, then executed after the consistency group completes, eliminating the need to cancel the copy operation while ensuring space is properly released.
2Productivity
If the consistency group is maintained to continue data transfer, then data mirroring continues, but the space release command cannot be executed until completion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a space release data structure as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the consistency group data transfer process and the space release command. This data structure tracks tracks to be released and allows both operations to proceed without conflict - the consistency group continues transferring data while the space release operations are recorded and executed appropriately after completion.
3Productivity
If all tracks in the release space are released immediately, then space is freed quickly, but tracks that need to be reallocated are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the release space into individual tracks and uses a space release data structure to track each track's release status separately. This allows the system to release tracks that are safe to free while identifying and protecting tracks that need to be reallocated, enabling selective space release rather than blanket release of all tracks.
Solution Approach 2:
The space release data structure provides feedback mechanisms to track which tracks have been released and which need to be reallocated. The system monitors the state of each track and adjusts the release operation accordingly, ensuring that tracks requiring reallocation are identified and protected from premature release while maintaining efficient space management.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using a space release data structure to indicate tracks to release for a space release command to release space of tracks in a consistency group being formed. A space release command is received to free a release space of tracks in a source storage or target storage while transferring changed data in a consistency group to a target storage. A space release data structure is created indicating for each track of the tracks in the release space whether to release or not release the track. The space release data structure is initialized to indicate that each of the tracks is to be released. The tracks in the space release data structure are indicated to be released after the consistency group has completed.